U.S. VOWS TO AID ALLIES IN MARITIME RIGHTS / UST
INSTALLS 96th RECTOR
CAM RANH BAY, VIETNAM, JUNE
5, 2012 (PHILSTAR) US Defense
Secretary Leon Panetta (photo) used a visit to Vietnam last Sunday to make
clear Washington's intent to aid allies in the Asia-Pacific region develop and
enforce maritime rights in the South China Sea, which Beijing largely claims.
On a historic stop in Cam Ranh Bay, the strategic deep water port that was a
US base during the Vietnam War, Panetta could gaze out from the flight deck of
the USNS Richard E. Byrd toward the sea and reflect on the significance of the
harbor, which represents both a painful past for the American military and a
challenging but hopeful future.
"The new defense strategy that we have put in place for the United States
represents a number of key elements that will be tested in the Asia-Pacific
region," Panetta told reporters gathered under a blazing sun on the deck of the
cargo vessel.
He said the US would "work with our partners like Vietnam to be able to use
harbors like this as we move our ships from our ports on the West Coast toward
our stations here in the Pacific."
[PHOTO -Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (left) speaks on board the USNS
Richard Byrd in Cam Ranh Bay. Panetta is the most senior American official to
visit the former US base since the Vietnam War ended. AP…]
Panetta never mentioned China as he spoke to crew members on the Byrd and
later to reporters. But with the South China Sea as a backdrop, he left no doubt
that the US will maintain a strong presence in the region and wants to help
allies protect themselves and their maritime rights.
His visit, however, is likely to irritate Chinese leaders who are unhappy
with any US buildup in the region and view it as a possible threat.
Panetta, in remarks Saturday to a defense conference in Singapore, rejected
such claims about the shift in US military focus. But US officials are wary of
China's increased military buildup and expanding trade relations with other
countries in the region.
"Access for United States naval ships into this facility is a key component
of this relationship (with Vietnam) and we see a tremendous potential here for
the future," he said.
This is Panetta's first visit to Vietnam, and his stop at the harbor made him
the most senior US official to go to Cam Ranh Bay since the Vietnam War ended.
Right now US warships do not go into the harbor, but other Navy ships, such
as the Byrd, do. The Byrd is a cargo ship operated by the Navy's Military
Sealift Command; it has a largely civilian crew. It is used to move military
supplies to US forces around the world. Navy warships go to other Vietnam ports,
such as Danang.
While Panetta suggested the US may want to send more ships to Cam Ranh Bay in
the future, he and other defense officials did not detail what requests he may
make in meetings with Vietnamese leaders.
On Sunday, the port served more as a symbol of America's growing military
relationship with Vietnam, underscoring Washington's desire to build
partnerships in the region in part to counter China's escalating dominance.
For Panetta, who was in the military during the Vietnam era but did not serve
in the country, it was an emotional opportunity.
"For me personally this is a very moving moment," he said, noting that on
Memorial Day he was at the Vietnam memorial in Washington commemorating the 50th
anniversary of the war.
"Today I stand on a US ship here in Cam Ranh Bay to recognize the 17th
anniversary of the normalization of relations between the United States and
Vietnam," he said.
The relationship between the two nations has come a long way, he said. "We
have a complicated relationship but we're not bound by that history."
The new US strategy for the Asia-Pacific includes a broad plan to help
countries learn to better defend themselves, and for that to happen "it is very
important that we be able to protect key maritime rights for all nations in the
South China Sea and elsewhere," Panetta said from the deck of the ship.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own, setting up
conflicts with other nations in the region, including Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia,
Singapore and others who also have territorial claims there.
Panetta flew to Vietnam from a major defense conference in Singapore, where
he met with leaders from allies all across the region. There he issued a strong
call for Asian nations to set up a code of conduct, including rules governing
maritime rights and navigation in the South China Sea, and then develop a forum
where disputes can be settled.
At the same time he detailed plans to boost US military presence in the
region, including a modest increase in ships and more troops that would mainly
rotate in and out. Defense officials said that by 2020 the US Navy would add
about eight ships to the Asia-Pacific region, and overall would have about 60
percent of the fleet assigned there.
Tensions between the US and China reverberate across the region, and are
often focused on America's support of the island of Taiwan, which China
considers its own. Another key area of dispute is the South China Sea, which
China claims almost entirely as its own. But Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines also have territorial claims there.
In addition, more recently the US has been vocal in blaming China for cyber
attacks that emanate from the country and steal critical data from US government
agencies and private American companies.
Phl, US to share real-time info on security developments
By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated June 05, 2012 12:00
AMComments (0)
[PHOTO- President Aquino chats with Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of
the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, at Malacañang yesterday.]
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine and US security officials yesterday vowed to
engage in "real-time information sharing" on security developments and
reaffirmed their commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).
These were discussed during a meeting yesterday between Defense
Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint
Chiefs of Staff, in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
"We discussed information sharing, real-time information sharing," Azcueta
told reporters after the meeting.
"We welcome his visit and we appreciate it and it is a manifestation of their
commitment to us under the Mutual Defense Treaty and we have a strong and
vibrant security and military relationship as well as cooperation," he said.
The MDT was signed by the Philippines and US in 1951 "to declare publicly and
formally their sense of unity and their common determination to defend
themselves against external armed attack."
The treaty also seeks "to strengthen their present efforts for collective
defense for the preservation of peace and security."
Under the treaty, the two countries, separately or jointly, shall maintain
and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.
The US has vowed to honor its commitment under the treaty but remains silent
as to whether it would be invoked in case tension escalates in Panatag
(Scarborough) Shoal.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), for its part, said the Filipino
should be wary of the US plan to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a statement, CPP claimed the Aquino regime and the US have been discussing
arrangements that would provide American forces greater access to Philippine
land, water and airspace.
It added that the government would provide support facilities for the docking
and refurbishing of US warships and stationing of US troops and base for the
operations of US spy and attack drones.
Azcueta said the modernization of the military was also brought up during the
meeting.
"We informed him (Dempsey) that we (had given) them a list (of equipment), if
they can provide us with their excess defense articles," he said.
Azcueta said the list includes long-range patrol aircraft and radars.
The list was forwarded by defense officials to the US government during the
bilateral strategic dialogue last January.
The US military officer, however, did not provide any specific commitment on
the matter.
"He (Dempsey) said he knows about the list... He did not say anything. That
was just the statement so it's just a courtesy call," Azcueta said.
Azcueta and Dempsey also emphasized the need for more bilateral exercises to
enhance the US and Philippine troops' interoperability. – With Delon Porcalla, Jaime Laude
FROM MANILA TIMES
UST INSTALLS 96th RECTOR Written by : Lea
Manto-Beltran, Healthnews Associate Editor
[PHOTO- Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P. smiles after his installment as
the 9th rector of the University of Santo Tomas on June 4, 2012. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN]
DOMINICAN priest Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., promised to keep the legacy
and continue the development of Asia's only pontifical university when he was
formally installed on Monday as
the 96th Rector of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) after the Misa de
Apertura or the Mass of the Holy Spirit, which traditionally opens the academic
year.
The mass was officiated by the new Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe
Pinto. The Thomasian community warmly welcomed its new rector with Commission on
Higher Education Commissioner Nona Ricafort, Mayor Alfredo Lim, church
hierarchy, academic institutions, and members of the diplomatic corps as
witnesses.
Fr. Jojo, as he is fondly called, was ordained to the priesthood on September
28, 1994 at the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. He previously held posts as
Prior/Superior of the Santo Domingo Convent, Quezon City, and Caleruega,
Batangas.
Currently the Prior of the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas in UST and the
internal auditor and director of finance and administration of the UST hospital,
Fr. Dagohoy was also formerly the Rector of Angelicum College in Quezon City. As
a respected academician, Fr. Dagohoy has published articles and book reviews in
scholarly journals. He also engaged in significant scientific, ecclesiastical
and cultural activities, and delivered various talks and lectures both in the
Philippines and abroad.
Fr. Dagohoy hails from Hagonoy Bulacan.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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